I'm a PhD candidate student who needs advice on visa issues

Hi all ! My name is Luis from Mexico and I'm new at this forum.

I'm really worried about my status right now because my studies start on October 1st and still, I don't have a british visa.

My case is the following:
I was accepted as a PhD student at Leeds University with official start date October first. I have been sponsored by the goverment of my country, although I have to make up for the balance since the scholarship doesn't cover full fees, but this is not a problematic issue for me.

I couldn't start the visa procedure because I didn't get official response from my sponsor until the second week of August, so it was the third week of August when I applied for my Atas Certificate. I have not received this certificate as of now, September 15th. So, I can not make an appointment at the UK embassy neither I can book a flight, I don't think I'm gonna make it to England before October 1st. is anything I can do to obtain my ATAS certificate or Visa sooner? Do you think I can manage with the university to start my course at a later date, say November or may be January? I feel really bad about this.

Additionally, tell me guys if the following list covers everything I need in order to apply for a tier 4 PBS student visa(just to be sure):

- My Visa Letter

- The documents listed in the Visa Letter, in my case, just my certificate awarded for the MSc degree, officially translated to English.

- An original Letter from my Funding Sponsor stating the amounts they will provide and the duration of the sponsorship.(In english)

- The Passport Photograph

- A bank statement that shows that I have the balance of money in order to secure my tuition and maintenance fees. This document has been officially translated to English and the Mexican Pesos have been converted to pounds sterling according to the OANDA site at the date in which it was translated.


I'm so in doubt about the bank statement, do I need to have my savings in pounds ? if not, is it important the date in which it is converted my Mexican pesos to Pounds sterling?, do the original(in spanish) bank statement has to show the savings in pounds?. You know, it's not really clear what the embassy needs about this bank statement.

I hope someone can drop me some advice here

Greetings from Mexico !!

Hi

Do you think I can manage with the university to start my course at a later date, say November or may be January? I feel really bad about this.

Ask your university.Nobody can answer this question.Ask what is next early session.Simple is that

I'm so in doubt about the bank statement, do I need to have my savings in pounds ? if not, is it important the date in which it is converted my Mexican pesos to Pounds sterling?, do the original(in spanish) bank statement has to show the savings in pounds?. You know, it's not really clear what the embassy needs about this bank statement.

At the end of your bank statement you suppose to write with pen balance in pounds.You need to convert balance into pounds from web site

http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic

This is home office recommended web site for currency change.



Otherwise everything is fine.

UK_Banned_Member

Thanks Immigrationuk2009 !

I already talked to the University and they said there's no problem if I start later, that's such a release!!

However, the Atas certificate is not ready still, I hope it doesn't take too much longer and I hope I can make it and apply for the Visa before October 1st. is there anyway to know the status of my ATAS certificate or is it that the only thing left to do is patiently wait?

I wonder about writing the final balance in pounds in the bank statement. Why is not important the date in which the convertion is made?, I could easily have enough money one day and then, the next week have less pounds because of the Mexican Peso/British Pound change. What do you think?

My bank statement is an ad hoc one, I requested directly in the bank office, and it is an electronic one, whith this I mean, it's an electronic document printed in paper(not letterheaded), so I managed the bank would stamp it with their seal. I think that would do right?, do you think it's gonna be any problem if the legend in the seal saids "this document was received as proof for a credit or payment" ?